optional books

introduction to philosophy

course description. this course is an introduction to some of the problems and methods of philosophy. we will explore the following questions: what are gods? do gods exist? what is intelligence? do non-human animals and machines have intelligence? what is the nature of consciousness, and how does it relate to the body? what is knowledge, and what can we know? what is time? what are we? do we have free will? what happens when we die? is death bad? is life meaninglessness and absurd? what should we do, or is there no right and wrong? is there morality without gods? although aspects of these questions can be informed by science, adequate answers require philosophical investigation. in this course you will learn how to approach such questions in a rigorous and uniquely philosophical manner.

announcements

cultural relativismhere are some clips to get you thinking about cultural relativism
Posted Dec 3, 2012, 9:22 AM by Brian Rabern

paper 2 assignedthe final paper---paper 2---has been assigned. its due 12/20. hmwk 5 was assigned before the break and hwwk 6 is coming shortly. then that's it.
Posted Nov 27, 2012, 9:44 AM by Brian Rabern

time travel to kill hitlercould one go back in time and kill hitler? the scenario in the comic below makes perfect sense according to a lewisian understanding of time travel (see david lewis ...
Posted Oct 28, 2012, 7:53 PM by Brian Rabern

``Philosophy, if it cannot answer so many questions as we could wish, has at least the power of asking questions which increase the interest of the world, and show the strangeness and wonder lying just below the surface even in the commonest things of daily life." (Bertrand Russell 1912)